Stand for supporting and moving a pair of cymbal plates



Sept. 2, 1969- R MEAZZ| ET AL STAND FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING A PAIR OF CYMBAL PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 2, 1967 INVENTORb,

Sept. 2, 1969 MEAZZ| ET AL 3,464,305

STAND FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING A PAIR OF CYMBAL- PLATES Filed May 2, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQRJ) HM BY NW United States Patent 3,464,305 STAND FOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING A PAIR OF CYMBAL PLATES Remo Meazzi, Via Piatti 6, Franco Caldironi, Via Bolzano 24, and Attilio Olivieri, Via A. Sforza 81, all of Milan, Italy Filed May 2, 1967, Ser. No. 635,473 Int. Cl. Gd 13/00 US. Cl. 84-422 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stand for supporting and moving two superimposed coaxially arranged cymbal plates in axial direction relative to each other wherein one of the plates is supported in fixed position on the upper end of a guide tube connected to the upper end of an upright support member substantially parallel to and laterally displaced from the latter, whereas the other plate is fixed to the upper end of an operating rod slidably guided in the tube for movement in axial direction, and wherein tension springs are connected to the support member and the rod for yieldably holding the plates in spaced apart relationship while a foot pedal connected to the bottom end of the rod may be used for moving the plates in engagement with each other.

This invention relates to an improvement in means for supporting and moving the plates of a cymbal.

Particularly one of the major problems to be solved with the stand of the present invention is the balanced sliding of the support and operating rod of the movable plate, the return motion of which has been obtained thus far by the application thereto of a compression spring, which, however, makes the motion unsafe, causing jamming and increasing the usable effort of the operator, which is still considerable as being continuously carried out and for quite a considerable time. A- further inconvenience stems from the fact that the driving pedal of the aforesaid rod, in the current arrangements, shows a fixed inclination, which is not always usable by the operator whose height, position and habit dilfer from one individual to the other.

It is a specific object of this invention to provide an improvement in the support and driving means of plates of the indicated type, and such as to make the arrangement itself foldable in a minimum space for transportation purposes without the need for disconnecting the various components from each other.

With these objects in view, the stand according to the present invention for supporting and moving two coaxially arranged superimposed cymbal plates in axial direction relative to each other mainly comprises an upright support member to the lower end of which leg means are pivotally connected and movable between an operative position projecting in substantially radial direction from the lower end of the support member and an inoperative position folded against the latter, whereas a guide tube is connected to the upper end of the upright support member substantially parallel thereto and laterally displaced therefrom. One of the cymbal plates is connected in a stationary position to the upper end of the guide tube whereas the other cymbal plate is connected to the upper end of an operating rod which extends coaxially through the guide tube to be guided therein for movement in longitudinal direction, and tension spring means between the operating rod and the upright support member are arranged for yieldably holding the plates in axially spaced position. A foot pedal is connected to the lower end of the operating rod for moving the plates against the force of the tension springs in engagement with each other.

These and other more specific features of the improve ment according to this invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment form, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the arrangement, mounted in operating condition, in a perspective view; and

FIG. 2 represents the same arrangement, folded over in nonutilization condition, in a perspective view, and

FIG. 3 shows a detail, viewed in an axial section, of the folding joint, connecting the operating rod of the upper plate to the driving pedal.

Referring now to the figures in the attached drawings, the improved construction comprises a tubular sup port member 10, acting as a main support at the bottom of which at least three similar legs 12 are articulated through the block 11, integral therewith, said feet being also articulated via the rods 13 on the sleeve 14, which is slidable on the aforesaid support member 10 and such as to be locked in the position selected by the pressure screw 15. On the upper end of the member 10 is integrally fitted a block 16, provided with two jaws 17, 18 by means of which it can be tightened with the aid of a screw 19 about a guide tube 20' so that the tube is held by the clamping jaws substantially parallel to and laterally from the member 10 and adjustable in axial direction. To the block 11 is applied a bracket 21 to which a small frame 22 is articulatedly connected on which a pedal 23 articulates, which serves for the driving of the upper plate 24 so as to beat on the lower plate 25. The pedal is connected by an articulated link 26 to an operating rod 27, which is slidable in the aforesaid tube 20, the plate 25 being fixedly secured to the latter and the plate 24 being fixedly secured to the rod 27. In order to fold the aforementioned rod, which is of considerable length, it is made up of two sections joined to each other by a joint 28 by means of two cylinders 29 and 30 articulated thereto and integral wtih the two parts of the rod (FIGS. 2 and 3) which, during the driving motion, is maintained rigid, as it slides inside the tube 20, which may be also slipped olf the jaws 17 and 18 during the folding over phase. A screw 31 serves to adjustably fasten a cross beam 32 to the operating rod, and one of the ends of return elastic means or tension springs 33 and 34 are hooked up to the cross beam while the opposite spring ends, are fastened to the block 16, so that the tension of the springs is ad justable and the sliding of the operating rod is balanced, while a sleeve 35, sliding on the member 10, may be locked in the position selected by the screw 36, serves to limit the return travel of the pedal imparted thereto by the elastic means 33, 34, and to preset the inclination of the same. At the ends of the legs 12 are fitted caps 37, consisting of flexible material, such as rubber or the like, in order to create an elastic support for the unit, while at the end portion of the same are also articulated small tongues so as to be brought to the outside or tipped over to the inside of the leg, which is constituted by a U- shaped section, said tongues being provided with ferrules 38, adapted to avoid the slippage of the unit, should it be placed on soft ground.

The improved arrangement so executed may be quickly folded for handling or storage and brought back in a simple maneuver to the driving position most convenient to the operator, inasmuch as its parts are always joined to each other, thus eliminating the danger of a loss with the consequence of the nonuse of the unit, the movement of the rod is without friction, and the inclination of the pedal adjustable.

The improved arrangement according to this invention 3 has been represented by way of a nonlimiting example and for demonstrating its main features.

What we claim is:

1. A stand for supporting and moving two coaxially arranged superimposed cymbal plates in axial direction relative to each other, said stand comprising, in combination, an upright support member; leg means pivotally connected to the lower end of said upright support member movable between an operative position projecting in substantially radial direction from said lower end and an inoperative position folded against said upright support member; a guide tube connected to the upper end of said upright support member substantially parallel thereto and laterally displaced therefrom, said guide tube having an upper end carrying one of said cymbal plates in stationary position; an operating rod extending coaxially through and with opposite end portions beyond said guide tube to be guided therein and carrying at its upper end the other of said cymbal plates; tension spring means connected to said upright support member and to a portion of said operating rod below the lower end of said guide tube for yieldably holding said plates in axially spaced position; and foot pedal means connected to the lower end of said operating rod for moving said plates against the force of said tension spring means in engagement with each other.

2. A stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said tension spring means comprise a pair of tension springs arranged substantially parallel and respectively to opposite sides of said operating rod.

3. A stand as defined in claim 2, and including a cross member slidably guided on said operating rod below the lower end of said guide tube and means for fixing said cross member in any axially adjustable position along said operating rod to the latter, said pair of tension springs being connected at the lower ends thereof to opposite ends of said cross member so that the tension of said springs may be adjusted.

4. A stand as defined in claim 1, and including a clamping brace for connecting said guide tube to the upper end of said upright support member adjustable in axial direction.

5. A stand as defined in claim 1, and including a guide bracket mounted on said upright member adjustable in axial direction of the latter and guiding a lower portion of said operating rod, and stop means on said operating rod beneath said guide bracket and cooperating therewith for limiting upward movement of said operating rod under the influence of said tension spring means.

6. A stand as defined in claim 1, and including link means connecting the lower end of said operating rod to said foot pedal means in such a manner so that said foot pedal means may be moved between an operating position projecting in substantially radial direction from said upright support member and an inoperative position folded against the latter.

7. A stand as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide tube is connected to the upper end of said upright support member adjustable in longitudinal direction, and wherein said operating rod is formed of two parts and including link means articulatedly connecting the two parts together, said link means being during operation of said stand located in said guide tube.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1947 DArcy 84-422 1/1967 Rochon 84-422 

